These days would never be easy.

"Did you... come alone to Brule?" Archer asked cautiously.

"Yes." Hannah was a bit sleepy, dragging her head with her small hand, her eyes drooping, her voice muffled, "I came alone because I had nowhere else to go."

Bearing the identity of a refugee, she could only be continuously expelled and possibly live under that man’s surveillance.

So, for her, Brule was the best choice.

It was a planet that no sane person would ever want to set foot on.

Outside, it was said that every person living in Brule embodied bloodshed and slaughter; they were not human, more like animals, having only instincts, no humanity.

Hannah fell asleep, the bedding bunched up into a small nest, herself curled up inside.

This made her feel secure.

Only one candle was still lit in the room, at Archer’s feet.

It was left by Hannah.

Worried that he would be afraid of the dark alone in the small room.

Archer leaned against the wall behind him, head lowered, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a while, he slightly curled his lips into a smile, then took the candle inside and closed the dark door.

The room was completely plunged into darkness.

The curtains were not tightly drawn, leaving a small gap.

Just enough for moonlight to stream in.

Outside the window, Rosa swayed in the wind, casting a lightly shaking shadow.

Hannah opened her eyes, looked at the firmly closed dark door, then turned over, stretched her hand to pull the pillow into her embrace, and closed her eyes.

Only then did she truly fall asleep.

...

Outside the window.

People were already out when the sky was just getting light.

The weather had begun to cool, and even a few snowflakes floated down before the sun came up.

Some said this winter would be long and harsh.

Outside, someone was rummaging through the piled-up garbage, covered in filth, their fingers and face too dirty to discern their original appearance.

Hannah got up early, wearing a very old cotton-padded coat, the kind with patches, then sat by the window watching the people outside.

Two groups started fighting.

The losing side would become food.

In the refugee area, forming cliques was a common thing.

But no matter the type of gang, they all tacitly agreed not to provoke Hannah.

It wasn’t out of complete fear, just that they felt there was no need yet.

No need to provoke someone whose strength they did not understand.

During the fierce fighting, hands flew in the air, as did feet.

Hannah held a cup of hot water, watching as if viewing an animated cartoon.

Two years ago, in defeated Southport, she had lived like this.

No one would like her.

She was loved by the world and abandoned by the world.

With no choice, she could only accept.

Accept pain, accept wounds, accept death.

She was very hungry.

At first, she had gone to her mother.

But her mother was still pining for that man. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Her mother said, "Hunger does not bring death; your father gave me enough love, with love comes everything."

Love is as satisfying as a feast.

That was probably the meaning.

She didn’t understand, her mother consoled her, saying she would understand when she grew up.

Two days later, she was so hungry she saw black spots and could barely stand and walk.

At that moment, only one thought filled her mind.

She didn’t want love, she didn’t want to grow up, she just wanted to eat her fill.

That day was the first time Hannah left home, to survive.

Dragging her weak body, she took a sharp rock and slit open the belly of a stuffed rabbit.

She was really very hungry.